4 situations where the Cowboys may choose to trade up

The 2026 NFL Draft represents a momentous opportunity for the Dallas Cowboys as they hold two top-20 picks. The last remaining asset from the Micah Parsons trade will soon be gone, leaving nothing more to gain from shipping off their All-Pro edge rusher. This puts added pressure to do the right thing in this year’s draft, and how the team uses its first-round draft capital could have implications for many years to come.

With so much draft capital comes options. They can stand pat and make their picks, they can trade back and collect additional picks, or they can roll the dice and trade up to secure a player they highly covet. The choices are plentiful. While most would profess the Cowboys have several needs and should consider exchanging a little quality for quantity, there are some scenarios where it would behoove the team to drive up to land that generational defensive star.

Today, we’ll examine four possible scenarios that could get that phone ringing on Thursday as the Cowboys maneuver themselves into a spot to get a player they really love.

GO BIG

The situation: They gotta have an elite EDGE, David Bailey

The trade partner: Tennessee Titans

The cost: Cowboys give up picks 12 + 20 and receive picks 4 + 66

If the team has its sights set on taking the best pass rusher in this draft class, then they could choose to give up both their top 20 picks to land a blue-chip star. Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey is the Cowboys’ best chance to replace the elite pass-rushing skills of Parsons, and it would come at a much lower price than the lucrative deal that the Packers just gave Parsons. Of course, nothing is promised, but it would at least show that the team is taking pass rush seriously, and when you combine that with all the other Parsons residual players they’ve acquired in the last year (Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark), suddenly the return on the exchange looks rather favorable.

In this scenario, the Cowboys would also receive the Titans third-round pick, setting themselves up nicely for one of the many Day 2 cornerbacks available in this draft.

AN ELITE HAS FALLEN

The situation: One of their stars falls out of the top 5

The trade partner: Cleveland Browns

The cost: Cowboys give up picks 12 + 20 + 112 and receive picks 6 + 39

There is likely a short list of defensive studs the Cowboys view as top five overall. Maybe it’s Bailey, maybe it’s fellow edge rusher Rueben Bain, or maybe it’s one of the Ohio State guys. If one of the team’s top prospects makes it out of the top five, it could put the Cowboys in a position to make a move. Unlike the previous move, this one is slightly less expensive. The team could trade both their first-rounders to the Browns for the sixth overall pick. The Cowboys would also have to give up their fourth-round pick (112th overall), but they would also get the Browns’ second-round pick (39th overall).

The Cowboys could secure their defensive stud, but also have a shot at another defensive talent, like say, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, giving the team two strong starters at positions of need. Getting an early third-round pick takes the sting away from losing both top 20 picks just to move up six spots, especially if they can land another impact defender.

AN UNEXPECTED SLIDE

The situation: It’s too hard to pass up

The trade partner: New Orleans Saints

The cost: Cowboys give up picks 12 + 92 + 112 and receive pick 8

Maybe the Cowboys aren’t really thinking of trading up for a blue-chip player because the cost of giving up their 20th overall pick is too rich for them. However, the farther one of their studs falls, the cheaper that price gets. Let’s say they really love one of the Buckeye boys, Sonny Styles or Caleb Downs. Surrendering pick 20 isn’t appealing to them, but if they are still there at pick 8, they can move up without having to give up their second first-round pick. To move up just four spots, the Cowboys would only have to give up their third-round pick (92nd overall) and fourth-round pick (112th overall).

A move like this would mean the Cowboys wouldn’t have any picks in rounds two, three, or four, making them spectators for a huge part of the draft, unless they turned around and dealt pick 20 for more picks.

THE LAST CHANCE

The situation: They’re about to be washed out

The trade partner: Cincinnati Bengals

The cost: Cowboys give up picks 12 + 112 + 152 and receive pick 10

If the Cowboys are just patient enough, there stands a strong chance that one of their top defensive guys will make it to them at pick 12. Between Styles, Downs, or Mansoor Delane, the chances seem pretty good that at least one is there when the Cowboys are on the clock.

Of course, there are no guarantees, and they could find themselves in a situation where all of them start coming off in a hurry. If only one remains by pick 10, it might be wise to jump up a couple of spots to secure the last blue-chip player. Similar to moving up to pick eight, the cost won’t touch their 20th overall pick and only requires them to give up their fourth-round pick (112th overall) and their fifth-round pick (152nd). That’s a small price to pay to avoid missing out on this year’s class of elite defenders.

CONCLUSION

There are a variety of paths for the Cowboys to pick up the phone and make a deal. Whether it is a massive jump or a strategic slide, the team has the ammunition to dictate their own destiny rather than waiting for the talent to fall to them. Every one of these scenarios brings a different flavor of excitement to the roster. The Cowboys could shock us all by secretly planning to bypass the safe route entirely to move up for a dominant defensive anchor who will redefine their identity.